- The event will mark the end of the UFC's seven years with Fox as a new broadcast deal with ESPN is slated to begin in January 2019.
- A lightweight rematch between former interim title challenger Kevin Lee and Al Iaquinta is expected to serve as the event headliner. The pairing met previously in February 2014 at UFC 169 with Iaquinta winning the fight via unanimous decision.
- Erik Koch was expected to face promotional newcomer Dwight Grant in a welterweight bout. However, Koch was removed from the card on November 28 for undisclosed reasons and replaced by Zak Ottow.
- A women's flyweight bout between Jessica-Rose Clark and Andrea Lee was expected to take place at the event. However, Clark was forced out of the bout as she was hospitalized due to weight cutting issue and deemed medically unfit to compete by UFC physicians. As a result, the bout was cancelled.

wow Kevin Lee's striking turns out is not crisp at all. couldn't handle that double jab /straight and also getting countered every time. gotta learn how to put those hands up. he stays in the strike zone way too much even though he's got a nice reach